“It was an accident,” Sergei said. “I didn't know what it was,” he said, picking bits of plastic out of his fur. It had hurt like hell when he'd stepped on the thing, a piece of plastic had cut his the bottom of his foot up. He picked a still twitching plastic leg out of his heel and then dropped it with distaste into a baggie Asazi was holding for him.
“I... I felt a shock when it died. I felt it die,” Ox rumbled, for once shivering.
“You okay?” Jethro asked softer. That got the attention of the other Marines in the room who turned to them. He waved them off.
“I was connected to the thing through my WIFI. I could feel what it felt, see what it sensed.”
“Shock?”
“A bit. I'm getting over it,” the Tauren said. “I think I need to create buffer though.”
“You felt it die?” Asazi asked.
“It wasn't alive,” Fonz said. “So?”
“So, even though it wasn't organic, I had given it a limited intelligence. Oh, only a tiny spark, a bot. But still something. But no, it had no emotions.”
“So it wasn't alive or it was? I don't follow,” Asazi asked, zipping the baggie shut. She sighed and reopened it when Jethro picked up a tiny piece near her boot and held it up.
“It wasn't, but AI are. I'm wondering now about link shock. If it had been a more sophisticated remote, would I have felt it even more?” Ox rumbled, rubbing his chin.
“I wonder what link shock is like if you are a pilot.”
“Ask someone like Deja or Hurranna that question. Or one of the Cobra pilots,” Jethro said. “A topic for dinner? Anyone hungry?”
Silently the group got up and headed to the door. The discussion didn't die though, it became a topic of discussion as they explored the implications of drone death while being connected. Jethro snorted at the looks of amusement around their table. Other Marines chimed in or just ignored them, thinking they were either putting on a show or talking about something far over their heads.
...*...*...*...*...
Just before the first seasonal rains someone got the idea of turning all the logs into bridges and temporary buttresses for the roads in the outer edges of the base and in and around the crudely constructed firebases. A few of the logs had been turned into improvised seating or shade shelters but they still had tons left over. A few Marine squads were tasked to experiment with the project but they didn't get very far before the rains hit.
Some buildings had hand rails, but that little feature had been overlooked. So had adequate drainage in some of the civilian areas. More than one Marine was caught outside on a ladder cleaning leaves and debris out of gutters while it pissed rain on them.
When the rain did fell the Marines learned a valuable lesson about the need for gravel on the roads. All the dirt roads turned into quagmires. Only vehicles with hover ability or 4 wheel drive could get through. Many of the purchased civilian vehicles and even a few of the hummers became bogged down and trapped. One enlisted driver came back splattered with mud from head to toe after having to push his jeep out of the muck while his officer drove. The rooster tail from the muck had just about smothered him.
“Did you roll in the muck or just dive head first?” Ris'ha teased. The Marine Private held his hands away from his sides, occasionally flicking them down onto the once clean floor. The Marines in the barracks had towels down to try to keep the mess from getting out of control but they were all saturated to the point of uselessness.
“Very funny,” the Private muttered.
“How about you go back out, stand in the rain and take your shower there,” a Marine said. “Seriously, save you some clean up later,” he said.
“So not funny,” the Marine said, shaking his head. He took his helmet off and mud dribbled off his scalp down his face. He sighed as the men and women in the barracks laughed. Someone tossed him a green towel with the Marine corps insignia embroidered in gold on it.
...*...*...*...*...
Jethro taught more of the Marine creeds and the sentry orders. He was a bit embarrassed when he remembered he violated them by talking to Commander Logan once. Oh it had worked out in the end, it had helped the Commander and the Navy a great deal in the end, but it was proof of a lack of discipline on his part. There were proper methods for such actions.
Learning the NCO's handbook of tips and tricks was amusing. He had seen it in the library, but really hadn't thought he'd need to look into that so soon. Now he read it cover to cover weekly when he had time. He'd scanned it into his implant memory. He wished they had an AI or better search engine for it, several times he felt like he was sticking his foot in his mouth. But it did help him grow and become more comfortable in his new role.
Instead of being tasked with basic boot Jethro had been rotated to half and half. He trained the advanced course, this time with some of his former recruits as students. Valenko oversaw some of the advanced courses, including Hostage Rescue, introduction to Recon, Search and Rescue, introduction to Powered Armor, and Advanced Urban Warfare. Jethro and most of the squad were tapped as instructors for a lot of the courses.
Jethro was also tapped to train the basic sniper course in boot and the advanced recon sniper course. He also filled in when other DI's were away or injured.
...*...*...*...*...
On a nice balmy day Jethro was called in by a pair of DI's training the first level recruits. He trotted back to his barracks where he found a sullen Kovu there with a couple of MP's and the DI's.
“What's up?” he asked warily, giving the lion a look. He knew Rick and Sledge, both were good troop. Both seemed pissed though, and the MP wasn't a good sign either.
“He was been visiting one of the boots. We've warned him off twice. This is where we take official action.” He nodded to the MP's. “Next step is the stockade and official notice.”
“Boots?” Jethro asked, straightening. He turned to the sullen Kovu. “You forget military discipline Private?” he growled, now all business.
“No sir,” Kovu said, snapping to attention. His ears were flat on his skull. His tail was stiffly pointed down behind him. He had an image of submissive attentiveness that Jethro knew fooled no one.
“Just the fraternization charge?” Jethro asked glancing at the nearest MP. The MP's looked at the DI's. The two DI's nodded.
“I understand fraternizing with boots while they are in training is a major no no. Is it effecting her training?” Jethro asked.
“Somewhat. Her fellow boots are resentful or envious of the contact which is causing undesired distraction and friction,” The DI responded. He didn't mention the ice cream Kovu had smuggled to the girl the first time.
“How far do you want to take this?” Jethro asked. “I'd prefer not to wash them both out.”
Kovu looked ready to object but a simple glare from Jethro shut him up. He exhaled heavily.
“I think we can keep it from going that far. But this is it Sergeant. Next step we bring down the house on both of them,” the DI said. “I'll deal with her punishment later.”
Jethro nodded. “Nonjudicial punishment. I'll handle it.”
“Thanks Sergeant. Make sure it doesn't happen again.”
“I will.” Jethro drew the DI aside. “Next time give me a heads up before it gets to this point so I can keep a better eye on the situation.”
The DI's jaw worked and then he nodded. “Fair enough. Just make sure he stays gone.”
“I will,” Jethro said turning to Kovu. “I'll take it from here gentlemen,” he said nodding to the MP's. The MP's nodded and left.
He escorted Kovu back to their barracks. Kovu fidgeted, not liking the silent treatment at all. He was starting to work back to his sullen brooding. “It's not like I did anything wrong,” he growled.
“How'd they catch you?” Jethro asked conversationally.
“We got a little loud,” Kovu admitted.
Jethro snorted mentally. He could just bet they did, cats yowled in their love making due to strategical
ly yet inconveniently placed barbs on a certain piece of a male's anatomy. At the right angle they felt good, but other angles or after repeated playing the repeated friction ended up causing pain. Which coupled with their heightened pleasure tended to spice things up. “What was she supposed to be doing?” he asked.
“Um... I...”
“She was on duty?” he growled grimly.
“No! I think she had someone covering for her.”
“You mean you hope. So, she disobeyed an order and you disobeyed an order. Wonderful.”
“We...”
“I don't want to hear it Private second class.”
“I... hey I'm supposed to be a first class!”
“Not anymore,” Jethro replied turning and stopping. “You lost a rating when you disobeyed an order. Do you realize you could have wound up in the stockade? That she could have been dishonorably discharged? That you could be thrown out as well? Prejudicial to good discipline, disobeying an order... Right now she is probably seriously pissed and ashamed and being ground down over this by her DI's. You realize she is being severely punished too? All because the two of you couldn't handle a little adult self control?”
Kovu's eyes widened as he felt a pang of guilt and remorse followed by more resentment. “It's not like we were...” He started to protest but Jethro cut him off.
“You disobeyed an order. We sort of frown on that sort of thing in the military. I'd of thought by now that would have sunken in,” the panther said, eyes narrowing to pinpricks.
“I...”
“Kovu, shut it,” Jethro growled. He got close, close enough to look the larger lion in the eye. Kovu was part American cougar so he wasn't as big as a full African Neolion but he was still larger than Jethro. Golden eyes met golden eyes and Jethro's were all business. The lion gulped, remembering their encounter on the wrestling mat. “One rating. One week pay. Restricted to barracks one month. One week KP. Keep your mouth shut!” he growled as Kovu started to protest. There was something there, the hint of death and mayhem in the panther's subsonics and body language that told the lion that if he didn't toe the line he was history. It was something that made the lion want to pant or run in fear. His own eyes dilated wide in fear.
“See? Still having problems following simple orders. Want me to double it?” Jethro snarled. Kovu finally wised up and went to full attention, eyes staring up over Jethro's head.
“Ah, the light dawns,” Jethro said, voice dripping with sarcasm. He was not quite snarling, but his teeth were bared. “You're a Marine. Start acting like one not some hormone drenched twit with more balls than brains. In other words grow up and stop being such a fuck up or I'll personally cut those damn balls off that you treasure so much and ram them down your fracking throat. Understood?” Jethro snarled, ears flat, tail thrashing. He looked to the side as a pair of privates passed them. The privates slowed but when they caught his 'as you were' glare they sped up and moved out of earshot.
When Jethro judged that the eavesdroppers were out of earshot he returned his attention to the lion. “She needs to focus on her training, you're distracting her and her team. That could get them killed. Keep your pants on and fucking do your job. You read me Marine?” he snarled.
Kovu squirmed. “Um...”
Jethro's eyes glittered. “The proper response is yes Sergeant. I better damn well hear it now!” He snarled, voice dropping even lower. Normally, the more agitated a cat got the voice rose in pitch. Jethro was controlling that, directing it.
Kovu froze, ears flat. He didn't know they could embed themselves into his skull until now. “Yes Sergeant!” He snapped.
“Good. I'll let the old man know what's going on. He'll be pissed but since I'm handling it he'll hopefully not come down on you any further with an article 15. If you don't fracking keep your dick in your pants he'll get what's left of you only after I'm through with you. Understood?”
“Yes Sergeant!” Slowly his ears started to rise. He felt like a kitten all over again.
“Don't you ever, I mean ever disobey an order here or in the field or I will rip your throat out. DO you understand me Private?” Jethro snarled, fur on end, lips pulled back, teeth bared.
Kovu's eyes were wide and fully dilated. His adam's apple bobbed up and down convulsively. For the second time since they had met Jethro had scared the spit out of him without cloaking or flexing a claw. His ears flattened and his tail drooped. He gulped and then nodded as he straightened. “Yes Sergeant.”
Jethro held the glare for a full minute. “Good. Dismissed. Get your ass in that barracks and prepare for inspection in twenty. Since you've got too much time on your hands I'm going to have to take time from my busy schedule to do something about that. And since I'm not happy about that you damn well won't be happy about the attention either when I'm through with you.”
“Shit,” Kovu muttered as he turned in an about face and took off at a trot.
Jethro watched him go and turned. He sighed and shook his head. He sniffed the air as the wind shifted. He turned, facing the wind and then looked into the shadows near the edge of the barracks. A familiar shape was there. “Anything to add Lieutenant?” he asked casually, voice returning to normal.
Valenko rumbled a chuckle as he stepped out into the light. “No, you handled that about as well as I would have. Next time take him to me before you decide on a punishment though,” he rumbled.
“Yes sir,” Jethro nodded.
“We officers like to at least pretend we're in charge you know,” Valenko rumbled, but his eyes twinkled.
Jethro snorted, feeling his anger ebb. The stupidity of the situation would normally amuse the hell out of him. He hoped they both enjoyed it, the female was probably going to not be interested in Kovu for a long damn time after her DI's got through with her. Knowing the male of the species, Kovu had probably assured her everything would be okay, and that they wouldn't get caught. Now they both knew better, as did others. Perhaps their example would do some good once the grapevine got wind of their punishments. “Shows what you know. You should never of let them promote you.”
“Yeah yeah. Funny,” the bear rumbled with a subterranean chuckle, waving a hand paw dismissively. They both knew the old saw about how the sergeants really ran the roost. “I take it Kovu got into some mischief?” he asked.
“You're supposed to pretend you know everything. Not working with your image,” Jethro said with a smile as he sauntered over to the bear. The bear mock growled. Jethro chuckled. “Yeah,” he turned to look over his shoulder. “You could say that. I heard him talking about his girl Kiara and how she was a new boot who had gone sleeper. Apparently he decided to make up for lost time when she woke.”
“Oh.”
“Which the DI's took exception to. I can't blame them.”
“Oh,” Valenko replied, tone now decidedly darker and more ominous. “Problem with discipline?”
“Apparently.”
“Is he working out?”
Jethro looked at the barracks and signed. “Yes and no. In the field he is half way decent. Maybe eighty or ninety percent in sim combat. I need, hell you need him one hundred percent. We need to get him through the hormone soaked teen years and get him thinking with his other head.”
The bear snorted. It sounded like a sneeze. “A soldier who won't...”
Jethro held up a hand. “Spare me sir. I know the drill. But there is a time and a place for everything and when someone in your chain of command gives you an order to keep distance...”
“You damn well better obey it. All right. Point. I've got some stuff coming up but I think I'll leave it in your hands. But if you can't handle him he's out. Whatever is left of him of course.”
“I know. I'll do my best.”
“You do that Sergeant. Dismissed,” Valenko growled. Jethro came to attention, saluted and then about faced. He moved off sharply. He had work to do.
...*...*...*...*...
Ox finished with the UAV and UTV projects and passed th
em over to engineering to put them into limited production. He moped for a day or so before he returned to his favorite, tinkering with the various powered combat armor designs.
Riley was amused at his apprentice's preoccupation, but went along with his apprentice more out of curiosity than in just humoring him.
One of the things the Tauren went back to was adjusting and improving the space boosters. He improvised a sled. The sled was three times larger than a suit, almost as large as a full up shuttle. It had massive weapons on it. The sled could carry half a squad of Marines in armor, plus half a squadron of fighter's worth of ordinance. It even had a corvette's main Neutron Particle energy weapon mounted between the legs of the pilot. Jethro wasn't sure how the Tauren had pulled that one off.
What it didn't have was a conventional power plant, the entire thing was powered by superconductor capacitors. The sled didn't have grav plates either, it had an old fashioned chemical drive. It was short ranged, but had a brutal kick to it, almost too much for the inertial dampeners built into the suits could handle.
Getting the interface from the suit to the sled worked out was an ongoing issue. During simulations, they noticed a lag, but attributed it to the limits of the software.
When the sled was ready for a flight test Valenko's squad was of course tapped to play guinea pig. Since Jethro had his flight pack, he was naturally selected to be the test pilot.
“Ox, what the hell did you do? What is this thing?” Asazi demanded, looking the craft over. They were in the newly minted orbital base's main hangar. The thing floated, in the center of the bay, tethered by bungees. A crew of robots were standing by, ready to fuel the craft.
“It's a sled. Like we used in Pyrax. But it's armed and dangerous.”
“Definitely dangerous,” Asazi said. “I don't want to ride that damn thing! It's a menace!” she shook her head. “It's liable to blow up with all the ordinance hanging all over the thing!”
“Oooh,” Sergei's eyes widened in comical interest. “Can I fly it? Can I?” he asked eagerly. Some of the squad chuckled, Asazi rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Jethro: First to Fight Page 54
